Description

Craving a bold and creamy weeknight dinner? Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Spicy Cajun Alfredo is your answer. This quick and satisfying dish brings together juicy, seared garlic butter chicken and rich, Cajun-spiced Alfredo sauce over a bed of pasta—making it one of the best easy dinner ideas you’ll ever cook. Whether you need a cozy comfort meal, a quick dinner fix, or fresh food ideas for your rotation, this easy recipe is bursting with flavor, texture, and creamy indulgence that’s hard to beat.

Ingredients

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized cubes

1 ½ tablespoons olive oil

1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon onion powder

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

8 ounces fettuccine or linguine

1 tablespoon unsalted butter (for sauce)

1 tablespoon olive oil (for sauce)

3 cloves garlic, minced (for sauce)

1 ½ cups heavy cream

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 ½ teaspoons Cajun seasoning

Salt and black pepper, to taste

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

1 cup reserved pasta water

Instructions

1. Cut chicken into even bite-sized cubes and mince garlic. Chop parsley and measure spices.

2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.

3. In a cast iron skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken, season with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.

4. Cook chicken for 4–6 minutes until golden and cooked through. Add butter and garlic. Cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Remove and set aside.

5. In a saucepan, heat olive oil and butter. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant (30 seconds). Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.

6. Lower heat and whisk in Parmesan until smooth. Season with Cajun seasoning, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (optional). Adjust to taste.

7. Add drained pasta to sauce and toss to coat. Use reserved pasta water to thin the sauce if needed.

8. Plate pasta and top with garlic butter chicken. Garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan. Serve immediately.

Notes

Pat your chicken dry before cooking for maximum sear and flavor.

Use freshly grated Parmesan for a smoother, creamier Alfredo sauce.

Don’t skip the reserved pasta water—it helps bind the sauce and pasta beautifully.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 plate (~1/4 of recipe)
Calories: 730
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 780mg
Fat: 44g
Saturated Fat: 22g
Unsaturated Fat: 18g
Trans Fat: 0.5g
Carbohydrates: 47g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 39g
Cholesterol: 170mg

Keywords: quick dinner, easy recipe, garlic butter chicken, Cajun Alfredo, creamy pasta, spicy pasta, chicken bites, weeknight meals